[ringsarcle]

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Tiki Barber wanted a more intense, fiery Eli Manning. The New York Giants quarterback gave Tiki what he wanted in a loud ripping voice on Tuesday.
Two days after being criticized on national television by Barber for a lack of strong leadership, Manning ripped his former teammate and current NBC football analyst for distracting the team last season with his early retirement announcement and his criticism of coach Tom Coughlin.
"I guess I'm just happy for Tiki that he's making a smooth transition into the TV world," Manning said. "You know, I'll be interested to see if he has anything to say (about a team) besides the Giants, and what his comments will be on that."
Normally reserved and never one to criticize a coach or teammate, Manning seemed to enjoy going after Barber, the Giants' all-time leading rusher who retired after last season at age 31 to pursue a television career.
Speaking during the halftime show of the Sunday Night Football game between the Giants and Baltimore Ravens, Barber had said that Manning's attempt to lead an offensive meeting in the 12th week of the last season was "comical" at times.

Manning didn't find the comment funny.
"It's just one of those deals. I'm not going to lose any sleep about what Tiki has to say," Manning said. "I guess I could have questioned his leadership skills last year with calling out the coach and having articles about him retiring in the middle of the season, and he's lost the heart (to play).
"As a quarterback you're reading that your running back has lost the heart to play the game and it's about the 10th week," Manning said. "I can see that a little bit at times. But I'm not going to get concerned. I'm going to go out there and play ball."
Speaking on his radio show "The Barber Shop" on Sirius NFL Radio, Barber said he was glad that Manning stuck up for himself, even though he felt his comments were tame and honest.
"Ill tell you this," Barber said. "It was not said maliciously."
Giants teammates came to Manning's defense on Tuesday.
Wide receiver Amani Toomer, who played his entire career with Barber, was stunned.
"I thought Tiki and Eli were pretty good friends," Toomer said. "It's kind of strange to have him say something like that and to make a point of it like that. Maybe he had somebody else in his ear kind of coaxing him into saying stuff, because I don't believe he really believes that. I don't know why he'd say something like that."
Manning's father, Archie, said at a charity bowling event in Indianapolis for his other son, Super Bowl MVP Peyton, that he had not counseled the Giants quarterback on how to handle the situation.
"He talked to me a while ago and said Tiki got after him a little bit the other night, and he said it's not a big deal," Archie Manning said. "He told me a whole lot of people in the Giants organization were proud of what he said.
"Eli's not a controversial guy and he's not going to be. I feel like if Eli did something like that, it would come from his heart."
Center Shaun O'Hara said that Manning is progressing as a leader, especially for a fourth-year player.
"I don't have any problems with Eli's leadership and the way he does it," O'Hara said. "He's doing it his way. I think players appreciate that. It's a shame everybody wants Eli to be somebody they think he should be instead of just letting him be himself."
O'Hara noted that Manning might be under the microscope more than most young quarterbacks because he is the brother of Peyton Manning.
"For me, you can be Johnny Rah-Rah, but if you're not doing your job, if you're not pulling your weight, it doesn't matter what you say," O'Hara said. "Being loud, that doesn't make you a great leader."
Tackle David Diehl said Manning showed his leadership Sunday night, getting the offense lined up right when the Ravens threw a couple of new looks at them on defense.
New York's new quarterbacks coach, Chris Palmer, added that Manning does everything a coach wants.
"Everybody leads in a different way," Palmer said. "If you buy any business books, there are 101 ways to lead. He'll lead in his own particular fashion."
While Barber praised Manning at times for his play, he also questioned whether he could be a leader of men and make plays when the chips were down.
"His personality hasn't been so that he can step up, make a strong statement and have people believe that it's coming from his heart," Barber said on the show.
Barber then told the story about Manning being uncomfortable talking to the offense in Week 12.
"He didn't feel like his voice was going to be strong enough and it showed," Barber said. "Sometimes it was almost comical the way that he would say things."
While Barber rushed for 1,662 yards last season, the second highest single-season total in Giants history, he also was a distraction in an 8-8 season that saw the Giants make the playoffs.
He went on record in early October saying that the 2006 season would probably be his last. He also created problems for Coughlin when he criticized him for pulling away from the running game too soon in a loss to Jacksonville in November.
It was the second time he went after his head coach.
After a playoff loss to Carolina in 2005, Barber said Coughlin was outcoached by Panther coach John Fox, a former Giants assistant.
While Coughlin refused to get involved in the controversy, he was happy Manning defended himself.
"Well, he thought about what he was going to do, and he decided he would say exactly what he felt," Coughlin said. "More power to him."






http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7141056

[Uzezqelj]

Why must they ask Archie what he thinks? Eli is old enough to stick up for himself. Do they ask Archie when Peyton says anything?

I would probably side with Tiki on this one.

[Charryith]

"Eli's not a controversial guy and he's not going to be. I feel like if Eli did something like that, it would come from his heart."

You mean he really didn't mean to insult the whole city of San Diego when you and him pulled that pre-draft crap a few years ago?

It must be so sweet for the Chargers having traded Vick and draftred LT and Brees.

Then trading Manning for Rivers after the Archie/Eli tantrum.

[stadiaKab]

Eli is a Tool

[sportsbettinge]

tiki is a tool

[gIWnXYkw]

Archie is THEE tool.

[joeyCanada]

I think the Giants wish they would have just gone ahead and drafted Philip Rivers.

[gariharlj]

Eli, Tiki and Archie are all tools. But it's nice to see that Eli has a pair. He's still a raging twinkie though.

[DEMassteers]

"Eli's not a controversial guy and he's not going to be. I feel like if Eli did something like that, it would come from his heart."

You mean he really didn't mean to insult the whole city of San Diego when you and him pulled that pre-draft crap a few years ago?

It must be so sweet for the Chargers having traded Vick and draftred LT and Brees.

Then trading Manning for Rivers after the Archie/Eli tantrum.

Trading the 1st pick in the 2001 Draft got the Chargers Tomlinson, Tay Cody, Reche Caldwell, and Tim Dwight.

Luckily Tomlinson alone made the trade worthwhile, because the rest of the spoils were crap.

[avaiftBoara]

I think the Giants wish they would have just gone ahead and drafted Philip Rivers.

Ben Roethlisberger.

[crumoursegemo]

I think the thing that disappoints me the most in this whole issue is why any of this got to the media in the first place. This is all crap that should be handled in the lockerroom. Granted, the most recent devopements are because Tiki is now part of the media. Well, I guess he was part of the media with his Barber Shop talk show on Sirius radio.

I'm also quite disappointed in Tiki and his lack of professionalism. I can understand frustration against a coach for his actions. I can understand a lack of faith in a person who is supposed to be a leader on the field. But, being the professional (I guess I use that term loosely) and a veteran, you keep that stuff in the lockerroom. You work it out with your team. Nothing's ever going to be completely rosey and peaches and cream. That's why he should have taken his frustration out on the folks in question to their faces.

Say, "Hey coach, why did you go away from the running game? I was just finding my groove." or something to that extent. And "Hey Eli, dude you gotta grow a set and start leading this team like a man. You're too afraid to say something to anyone." Both folks probably wouldn't have greeted the discussion with open arms, but they would have appreciated you keeping this out of the media. Most professionals know there are things you just don't say to the media.

As much as I disapprove of Manning and his abilities, I have come to disapprove of Tiki even more considering his skills and length of service in the NFL. He should have been able to rise above that and keep an open dialogue with Coughlin and Manning.

[Goalseexere]

I think the thing that disappoints me the most in this whole issue is why any of this got to the media in the first place. This is all crap that should be handled in the lockerroom. Granted, the most recent devopements are because Tiki is now part of the media. Well, I guess he was part of the media with his Barber Shop talk show on Sirius radio.

I'm also quite disappointed in Tiki and his lack of professionalism. I can understand frustration against a coach for his actions. I can understand a lack of faith in a person who is supposed to be a leader on the field. But, being the professional (I guess I use that term loosely) and a veteran, you keep that stuff in the lockerroom. You work it out with your team. Nothing's ever going to be completely rosey and peaches and cream. That's why he should have taken his frustration out on the folks in question to their faces.

Say, "Hey coach, why did you go away from the running game? I was just finding my groove." or something to that extent. And "Hey Eli, dude you gotta grow a set and start leading this team like a man. You're too afraid to say something to anyone." Both folks probably wouldn't have greeted the discussion with open arms, but they would have appreciated you keeping this out of the media. Most professionals know there are things you just don't say to the media.

As much as I disapprove of Manning and his abilities, I have come to disapprove of Tiki even more considering his skills and length of service in the NFL. He should have been able to rise above that and keep an open dialogue with Coughlin and Manning.

You make a lot of great points here, but Tiki is merely doing what he sees as necessary to get people to listen to his program. I'm not saying that's a good thing, but it will work for him.

[Qrhzbadu]

You make a lot of great points here, but Tiki is merely doing what he sees as necessary to get people to listen to his program. I'm not saying that's a good thing, but it will work for him.

That's the problem though, Tiki's using underhanded methods to get people to watch him and listen to him. That's all good and fine, but after a while folks will see him for what he has become and look elsewhere for credible and entertaining media coverage of their favorite topics. I guess the thing is that a lot of folks don't mind someone airing their dirty laundry through media channels. More power to them I guess.

[Amerworma]

Football soap opera

[VanDerSmok]

Football soap opera

Eli = drama queen

Archie = drama queen

Tiki = queen

[metrocartockasur]

Eli = drama queen

Archie = drama queen

Tiki = queen

Does that make Coughlin the King?

[9wQlZkIj]

Ronder and Tiki were slamming Eli on sirius saying Eli's testes finally dropped, Kerry Collins was a true leader and Eli's return fire was laughable and that its Tiki's job to be controversial. Peyton came in and said this:
“Ex-players truly become ex-players right away, the No. 1 job is to criticize players. I’m pretty defensive of all quarterbacks. Eli is my brother. I’m very loyal to my family. I’d rather you criticize me. I don’t think anybody knows what it’s like to be a quarterback except a current quarterback. Sometimes former quarterbacks forget what’s it’s like. You cannot play quarterback at any level — you’re in a leadership position. To do it for three years in high school, three years as a starter in college, taking your team to the playoffs — you are a leader and you’re a good leader."

Manning added: “It’s supposed to be a code, teammates to teammates. That’s the problem we’re going to have with ex-players going to the media. When I retire, I know what I don’t want to do.” For the record, I hate Eli Manning and I loathed Tiki Barber and despise Ronde Barber.

[Usogwdkb]

Poor Ellie. Cry me a river.

[Kragh]

Poor Ellie. Cry me a river.

I know. Personally, I didn't think Eli could be more of a woman, yet he proves me wrong yet again. I personally want this catfight to continue, just to see who comes out looking gayer. Of course, this thread wouldn't be complete without Kige Ramsey summing it all up for us in yet another groundbreaking report from Youtube Sports.